This game reminded me of many Pitt games versus
- Thread starter gary2
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Miss State and Duke were only two games all season where I really am shocked there wasn’t change in strategy or personnel. I get they are more talented but it got out of hand more than it should have at the end.
Very similar to Pitt’s 75-53 home loss last year. What we don’t have is Blake being able to explode like he did last year when we won 80-76. Tonight makes you appreciate even more how special that was. I think the upside of last year’s team with Blake and Bub is higher than this team right now. That’s why missing the tourney was so disappointing,
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Couldn't agree more. Our team last year had some real possibilities and was denied probably due to that sad home loss to Missouri. Bub was the best player on the floor in that NC ACC tournament game but Blake did not give him enough help. That team was really coming on toward the end. It's too early to write this team off this year, but, I don't think they have the potential of last year's team. We got Damian back tonight and I think Zack is OK. Hopefully our depth will serve us well against the rest of the ACC as no other team in this conference can touch Duke in terms of talent.
We are 1 and done most likely in the NCAA Tournament. Doesn't seem like Ish or Jaland are go to guys against really good teams. I'd argue both looked better last season. We have no 3 point sharp shooter like Blake was the past 2 seasons and Capel' coaching is basically force hero ball on every opponent and make zero adjustments when it's obvious it's not working.
Ish and Jaland trying to take on the whole opposing team will work a lot against bad, mediocre and decent teams. It doesn't have a prayer of working against really good teams and great teams like Miss St and Duke.
To be fair, Duke was down 2 or 3 starters when Pitt won there last season if I recall correctly. Weren't missing any today. Weren't missing any last year at The Pete either.
You have to coach a game against a team like this (and Miss State) differently. You have to play tough defense and control the clock and pass the ball around and be patient for open looks and the. make most of them. We didn’t do that and got blown out. Thankfully we don to play another team like that until March. But hopefully we learn from tonight when we do.
Last year's team was really good. Could have made a Final Four like NC St with the right matchups. That was probably our best team since the 1 seed team that lost to Butler.
I think it's a little early to designate us a one and done. I don't know for sure if we will definitely get in, but, I think we will do fine in conference and find our way in. Whether we do any good once we are in will depend on our seed. We will need a good matchup to move forward. We can play with finesse teams. We can't play with tough physical athletes who clamp down defensively. I know it's kind of hard to not get down on our guards after last night, but, it's important to remember that they are the main reason we are a 12-3 basketball team. I was pretty tough on Ish in the game thread too, but, any success we enjoy this year will come from Jaland, Ish, and Damian.
